AS IF being one of Ireland’s most talented actors wasn’t enough, Brendan Gleeson also has a few tunes in him.
The In Bruges and Harry Potter star plays the fiddle and mandolin and will lend his musical talents to a new project by Sligo folk band, Dervish.
To mark the release of their 12th album, the band have enlisted the help of Gleeson, Imelda May, Andrea Corr, David Gray, Steve Earle and many more.
The band is well respected in Irish music circles since its formation in 1989, and this new body of work will be their first in five years.
When announcing the collaborations, the band’s accordion player Shane Mitchell said: “Dervish are honoured to be working with Rounder Records on this important album which contains some of the great and iconic folk songs from the Irish tradition. These are the songs we all grew up with, and are still as important today to a nation that is known for its music culture.”
Gleeson’s music has previously been featured in some of the films he has acted in, including Cold Mountain and Michael Collins.
A release date for the album will be announced in the coming weeks.